Nalgonda (pronunciation(help·info)) is a town and a municipality in Nalgonda district in the Indian state of Telangana. Its name is derived from two Telugu words: nalla ("black") and konda ("hill").[2] Nalgonda in the past was referred to as Nilagiri. During the period of the Bahamani kingdom, it was renamed as Nallagonda.[3] Later in Nizam rule, during the later kings rule, the name was transformed into Nalgonda (for official uses). It is also the district headquarters.

As of 2011[update] India census,[5] Nalgonda had a population of 135,163 . Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nalgonda has an average literacy rate of 87.08%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 92.23%, and female literacy is 81.92%. In Nalgonda, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Nalgonda or Nilagiri is a place of residence from ancient times. In the old city center, there is an Ashoka pillar. The panagal village was the city center in Kakatiya period where exquisite and highly artful temple of emerald someswara, Chaya someswara temple, and a Venkateswara temple are found. The sculpture of emerald someswara temple is par excellence and highly skillfully carved pillars demonstrate the artisans' mastery as well as devotion. It is said that the temple is called emerald someswara temple because it was endowed with an emerald, which filled the entire temple with light reflected from it in day and night. Its structure follows trikuta architecture style with main sanctum of Shiva and sanctum of Parvati placed opposite, and sanctorum of Skanda placed on the right of main sanctum. The temple for some time was in ruins with many villagers pilfering some of the stone carvings, carting away to their huts or residences. Archaeological society of India, however, later on tried to protect the temple with a fence, and the temple stands in its glory with its pillars intact.

Similarly the Chaya someswara temple is an architectural wonder, where any time in day or night a column of shadow is seen exactly on the deity Shiva without any change throughout the year. Also, the temple's main deity always rests in water skillfully drawn from a nearby lake called panagal cheruvu. The whole construction and water circulating arrangement is as thought the deity is endowed with cool environs. The lake is also said to be very old with a silasashana giving its origin. Main interesting feature of the stone carvings is that the script on it is Brahmi script, indicating its very ancient origin.

Nilagiri is also endowed with two hills, where on one ill there is a fort, and another hill of huge rock of granite where a temple is seen. This hill on its one side has a huge rock of smooth surface embellished with rectangular indentures for help walking on it to reach the temple. Another interesting feature of this hill is there is large reservoir of water inside a hollow of the rock on another side with small opening to be seen as if water is stored by some one in a pot of giant size. At all times of the year it is filled to the brim.

The hill with the fort is called Kapurala (family residential) gutta, indicating that the families of the rulers were kept safe as this hill is very steep on all sides. This fort also has a very deep well as if to supply water for the residents for a long time.

During this period, people fashioned tools and weapons by chipping hard stones of convenient size and shape. This feature is testified by the findings of unifacial Paleolithic implements of the Sloan type at Yellowhammer.

Traces of Neolithic culture were found at Chota Yelupu, where sling stones and other objects of interest were unearthed. The existence of Megalithic culture was revealed by the discovery of innumerable burials at various places like Tipparti, Nakrekal, Nalgonda.

The political history of the district commences with the Mauryas. Mauryas, during the reign of Ashoka the Great, held their sway over this region. Later the region came under the overlordship of the Satavahanas, who ruled between 230 BC and 218 BC. It was during this period that the region established trade contacts with the Roman empire.

After the Ikshvakus, Pallavas and Yadavas fought for supremacy over the region. Luck favoured the Ikshvakus in the form of Samudragupta's invasion of the South. Rashtrakutas

A major portion of the district appears to have passed from the Chalukyas of Badami to the Rashtrakutas. Rashtrakutas fell in 973 and gave room to the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The sway of the Chalukyas continued until the end of the 12th century.

Nalgonda district is a major producer of cement in Telangana due to the availability of lime stone across the borders of Nalgonda district and neighboring Guntur district. there are large number of cement industries.

And There is Local train Facility 2 times From Kachiguda (Secundrabad)←->Nalgonda←->Miryalguda The place is well connected to state capital by road as well as rail. Many buses operate between the town and Hyderabad daily run by state govt. National Highway 65 passes through Nalgonda dist from Hyderabad to Vijayawada via Choutuppal, Chityal, Narketpally, Nakrekal, Suryapet and Kodad.

Two Hills in the Town (due to which the name Nalgonda) have got enormous potential to trekking adventures.

Lateef Saheb Dargah is located over the hill. Every year Exhibition (Mela) locally called as 'Urus' takes place. One more hill Kapurala gutta is also present within the Town.

Yadagiri Gutta: Yadagiri Gutta, which is the most devotional place in Nalgonda is located near Bhuvanagiri Town. It is close to Hyderabad, the capital city and the APSRTC runs many buses to the temple town from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station. The temple draws huge crowds, especially during vacations and on weekends. This is the Place of worship of Lord Laxmi Narasimha Swami.

Bhuvanangiri Fort: Bhuvanangiri Fort was built by Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI on an isolated rock. The Bala Hisar or citadel on the top of the hill gives a bird's eye view of the neighbouring area. The fort is associated with the herioc queen Rudramadevi and her grandson Prataparudra's rule.

Mattapalli: One of the famous devotional places in A.P is also in Nalgonda dist.

Chandupatla a village 24 km towards East from District headquarters Nalgonda. There are several ancient temples built under the reigon of the Kakatiya and before. The historians, writers and people of Chandupatla village, where an inscription [6] that confirmed the exact death date of great Kakatiya ruler Rani Rudrama Devi was found few years ago. Until the inscription was found in 1994 at Chandupatla that confirmed the death date of Rudrama Devi as 1289 AD, November 27, there was no proof available on the death of the first Hindu woman emperor of India. The inscription was installed very close to the village tank by a soldier of Rudrama Devi’s army Puvvula Mummadi, who is believed to be a native of Chandupatla. The inscription also says the Chief of Army of Rudrama Devi, Mallikarjuna Nayakudu, was killed on the same day, but there was no mention of the reason and the place of her death

Inscription on the death of Rani Rudrama Devi in Chandupalta 1289 AD [7] చందుపట్లలో రాణిరుద్రమ తుదిశ్వాస

Kolanupaka Temple: The Jain Shrine at Kolanupaka village, near Aler town is more than 2000 years old. This holy temple has three holy idols of Lord Adinath, Lord Neminath and Lord Mahaveera and 21 other "Theerthankaras". It is very recently renovated by more than 150 artisans from Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Panagal or Panagallu: A village near Nalgonda. There are several ancient temples built under the reign of the Kakatiya, Reddy and Velama kings. There is an archeological museum which has several interesting artifacts.

Vaadapalli: This is famous for its bridge and also called 'Triveni sangamam'(Confluence) where three rivers Godavari, Krishna and Musi meet.

Nagulapahad ( Narayanagudem/Dubbagudem ): This village is about 18 km South of Suryapet, on banks of the Musi river, famous for its temples. There are two Ancient temples (Trilingeswara Aalayam (Shivalayam) and Veerabhadreswara Aalayam) in this village, founded by the "Reddy Rajas" in the Kakatiya's era...They got the amazing art and beautiful sculptures carved on the black stone....These two temples are similar to the Warangal's "Thousand pillar temple"...and Pillalamarri Temple. These templeas are famous for Every year SHIVARATHRI 'Jatara' too.

As being district headquarters Nalgonda serves as a hub for primary and secondary education for surrounding villages . Nalgonda has many primary and upper primary schools which offers in Telugu Urdu and English as medium of instruction, St. Alphonsus's High School being one among them. Many schools operate with basic amenities. Recent awareness in parents is forcing the school managements to improve their infrastructure.

Some schools in old city area like, Millat High School, Rahmat-e-Allam,Dar-ul-uloom Meer Bagh Colony,Fatima niswaan do offer Urdu as medium of instruction for existing Muslim community. Kendriya Vidyalaya recently established.

Nalgonda district has Engineering and Medical colleges and vocational colleges.

Mahatma Gandhi University is the only university in Nalgonda. There are also professional colleges for engineering, pharmacy and science providing education in different fields.